Int'l Helmet Awareness Day: who stocks velvet?

[lmlacross]

With International Helmet Awareness Day coming up this Saturday, I’m thinking it may finally be time to buy a velvet, flesh-harnessed helmet for hunting.

Charles Owen is participating, but I’ve found the map of participating retailers a little difficult to work with.

http://www.riders4helmets.com/helmet-awareness-day/participating-retailers/

For those of you with more experience helmet-buying than I, which of the retailers participating are most likely to carry velvet Charles Owens (h2000, Hampton, Showjumper-- whatever) suitable for hunting? I’m not really bothered by which kitemark or safety standard the hat conforms to so long as one developed country or another has found it sufficiently protective to merit their certification. I won’t be showing in it, so ASTM/SEI isn’t critical.

[Anonymoose]

I’ll throw out this idea: a few years ago I read a wonderful book on hunting in Britain and Ireland. Lovely photographs, lots of visible tradition, and a LOT of riders wearing skull caps/crash helmets (like for racing and cross country) with helmet covers. I liked the look and I thought, why don’t people do that in the US?

I mean, after all, how many people hunt in derbies and toppers anymore?

Just a thought.

[connemarafan]

[QUOTE=Anonymoose;8846083]
I’ll throw out this idea: a few years ago I read a wonderful book on hunting in Britain and Ireland. Lovely photographs, lots of visible tradition, and a LOT of riders wearing skull caps/crash helmets (like for racing and cross country) with helmet covers. I liked the look and I thought, why don’t people do that in the US?

I mean, after all, how many people hunt in derbies and toppers anymore?

Just a thought. :)[/QUOTE]

I just purchased a skull cap and velvet cover for this season. I’ll probably be the only one in the field in a skull cap but I value my bonce!

[SouthernYankee]

I got it in my mind to hunt in my skull cap a few muddy days last season… the theory make perfect sense, afterall I wouldn’t get my velvet dirty!!

The theory worked but the lack of visor allowed so much mud to splatter onto my face it made for a miserable hunt. You don’t notice how much mud is kicked up with the visor, and the visor also helps keep little branches out of your eyes… We hunt farmland so it’s not uncommon for us to bust our way through fence rows and then have a nice gallop across a field.

I’m also looking for a new velvet before this season, mine has quite a few chunks missing out of the velvet (see blirp above about busting through cover)

[GrayMare]

I was sized at Rolex this year by the lovely folks at the Charles Owen tent, but then couldn’t find a retailer who carried the helmet that I wanted. I’ve found what I want on Ebay, etc. but I’m reluctant to make a big purchase through an unknown vendor, especially for something like a helmet. I think I’m going to ask somewhere like Dover or BOB if they can just special order for me. But, the discounts probably won’t apply to a special order!

[Equibrit]

http://www.doversaddlery.com/libertyville-retail-store/a/511/

http://www.doversaddlery.com/charles-owen-hampton-hlmt-15/p/X1-36524/

[Anonymoose]

Charles Owen stockists:

http://www.charlesowen.com/us/stockists

[WNT]

International Riding Helmets still does a velvet model.

The Medalist is under $80 without discounts, and it ASTM/SEI approved (showing or not, you want to meet or exceed those standards for safety, might as well be in a hunt cap or derby otherwise). I just noticed however it has a black harness.

I am in love with the Charles Owen Ayr8 Classic. Personally, that helmet fits me like a cloud in a safety shell. I still prefer a velvet helmet for showing, and the ventilation is lovely. It sits a little deeper, so if you have a tall crown (height from eyebrows to top of your head) it’s really comfortable. The Showjumper and H2000 are deeper fits as well, styled after the Patey hunt caps and tend to not be exactly “low profile”.

If you prefer a lower profile, the Hampton and Wellington Classic sit a little “shallower” than the previous models. For a lower crown height, where the Ayr8 may fit but sit too low, they may be better. The Hampton, in my experience, sits highest on the head, and the Wellington will be in between. I do like the padded leather roll on the Wellington, it provides a cozy pillow-like hug around my head (my J3 skull cap had the same roll).

I know that’s not very helpful in the retailer department, but if you have to order, at least I hope it gives you an idea of different fits to help narrow down a style selection.

[Equibrit]

Helmet Awareness day is Tomorrow SAT 17th. ONE DAY ONLY. OP is in the Chicago area. She is looking for a PARTICIPATING retailer so that she can get the discount !

[lmlacross]

Thanks, everyone. I’m fine with ordering from someone out of my area by phone or electronically, it’s just that finding a retailer who carries a range of velvet options is a bit of a needle-in-haystack proposition these days. Lots carry Charles Owen, but few carry one or more velvet models without having to special order.

I appreciate the help!

[gypsymare]

Stick with the Hampton. The 2000 although supposed to more closely resemble the Patey style, looks more like return of the coneheads–bobble head edition.

[xeroxchick]

[QUOTE=gypsymare;8847656]
Stick with the Hampton. The 2000 although supposed to more closely resemble the Patey style, looks more like return of the coneheads–bobble head edition.[/QUOTE]

I HATE my 2000. Very dorky.

[Mukluk]

I just ordered a CO Hampton. My first step in being properly outfitted to hunt someday. I still need a hunt bridle and a jacket (my two are the wrong colors being hunter green and a grey/blue color).

[lmlacross]

With the additional discount Dover is offering on Chas Owen, the Hampton is $170. Pretty compelling.

[wookiee]

A little late for helmet awareness day, but I wanted to comment on the skull caps. I hunt in New England and I wear a skull cap with a velvet cover. The cover has a reasonable brim, but it’s very easy to crush down.

Picture of the helmet

I switched to all skull caps after I had two face-down falls where the brim influenced my head/neck while falling and sliding to a stop. One of the falls resulted in a pretty serious injury. I replaced my helmet between falls, and in both cases the brim remained intact and rigid. So now I want a brim that just goes away if I end up face down again. I will take the hit to my nose over my head/neck any day!!

Best of luck and stay safe out there!

[Eleanor]

For anyone looking for a velvet helmet The Hunting Shop has lots to choose from.

http://thehuntingshop.co.uk/

[ISR]

belated response, but Adams carries the range and colors ( I have collected them all like Pokemon cards!)

http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/charles-owen-hampton-riding-helmet-2980002

[lmlacross]

Well, my new Hampton showed up. And I can’t really decide what to make of it. Fits quite well, but seems unbelievably tall and mushroomy. Sits all the way down as it should, but I feel like a Pez dispenser in it. I generally ride in a GPA Titium (which is aged, ergo my need for a new hat) and it seems much less bobble-headed than this new Hampton.

I’m not sure if I’m just not used to the traditional look in an approved hat, if it really is awkwardly tall on me, or what. Would a Wellington be worth a try? Might it sit down a bit deeper? Would anything?

[gypsymare]

Even though helmets come in about 15 different sizes, there may only be 3-5 shell molds and the rest is changed with padding. I’m usually AT LEAST a 7 1/2. I tried the Hampton on in a 7 1/4 with my hair down and it was snug so I tried the 7 1/2 and it was TIGHTER. The helmet overall appeared huge. Total mushroom head. The padding was much thicker than the 7 1/4. The difference was amazing. I ended up getting the 7 1/4 and just mooshing my hair down at my nape instead of going all up.

[lmlacross]

I’m already down to a 7 1/8 (58) from my usual 7 1/4 (60 GPA). It’s snug; I know I couldn’t go any smaller, unfortunately.